Maldivian to add airplane, seaplane to its fleet

The Maldives’ national carrier Maldivian is to add an Airbus a321 seating 220 passengers and another seaplane to its fleet.

In an announcement, state-run Island Aviation Services (IAS) which operates Maldivian stated that it is seeking an Airbus a321 to join its fleet next January for a minimum period of six years. IAS added that the aircraft must have been commissioned for a period less than ten years.

The new aircraft will be the second Airbus a321 to join Maldivian’s fleet, which also boasts an Airbus a320 seating 152 passengers.

IAS called for interested leasers to submit their proposals to the company before 2:00 p.m. this Monday.

The company’s head of administration Ali Nashaath stated Sunday that the objective of acquiring a new aircraft is to expand Maldivian’s operations.

“We’re already conducting flights to six cities in China. The only way to expand operations is by acquiring another aircraft,” he explained.

In addition to six destinations in China, Maldivian also operates to Thai capital Bangkok, India’s Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai, and Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.

IAS has also released a notice seeking an additional seaplane to its fleet, which currently boasts total eight.

In its notice, IAS stipulated that the aircraft must be prepared for inspection before October 31 and that interested sellers must come forward before 2:00 p.m. on October 6.